Section 1 “Classical Europe”

The Classical World

The Golden Age of Greece The Classical period of Greece reached its “Golden Age” in the 400s B.C.  By that time, the city-state, or polis, had grown from being ruled by a king to the almost direct rule of the people, or democracy.  Athens was the home of the world’s first democratic constitution. (pages 236–237) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-5

The Golden Age of Greece (cont.) Athenian artists produced famous and influential works of philosophy “lover of wisdom”, literature, and drama.  Three great philosophers were Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. (pages 236–237) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-6

The Golden Age of Greece (cont.) During this period, city-states like Athens and Sparta often fought against each other because they wanted to expand their empires.  In the 300s B.C. Phillip II and his son, Alexander the Great, conquered all of Greece. (pages 236–237) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-7

The Rise of Rome Rome was settled sometime around 1000 B.C. and dominated much of the Italian Peninsula by 700 B.C.  The Romans were a mostly agricultural society and were less likely to live in cities. (pages 237–238) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-9

The Rise of Rome (cont.) Rome started as a monarchy, but changed to a republic.  In a republic, people choose their leaders. (pages 237–238) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-10

The Rise of Rome (cont.) The foundation of Roman law was the Twelve Tables.  The “tables” were actually bronze tablets on which laws regarding wills, courts, and property were recorded, and the laws applied to all citizens of Rome, both common and noble. (pages 237–238) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-11

From Republic to Empire From 246 to 146 B.C. a series of wars transformed the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.  The peoples conquered by Rome were given Roman citizenship and equality under the Roman law. (pages 238–239) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-14

From Republic to Empire (cont.) Under the empire, senators lost power to emperors, or absolute rulers, of Rome.  Caesar Augustus was the first Roman Emperor, and he initiated the Pax Romana. (pages 238–239) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-14

From Republic to Empire (cont.) Jesus Christ was born a citizen of Rome in Palestine.  Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire in the A.D. 300s. (pages 238–239) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-16

From Republic to Empire (cont.) The Roman Empire began to decline in the early A.D. 300s.  Some of the causes were reform in government coming too late, plagues that killed many people, and the crumbling of the frontier defenses in the north. (pages 238–239) Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Section 1-17